Facial Photographs In Orthodontics: Uses, Views, And Importance

Facial Photographs In Orthodontics: Uses, Views, And Importance

Write short note on facial photographs.
Answer. Facial photographs are of great importance as they act as a diagnostic tool as with the help of facial photographs frontal and profile facial analysis can be done.

It is always preferred to take profie and frontal view photographs by help of two cameras. This helps in reproducing same position of patient for both profie and frontal views.

Facial photographs have extraoral views and intraoral views.

Extraoral Photographs

Following are the extraoral views:

• Profile
• Frontal
• Oblique

Profile view

• Profile at rest: In this view, the lips should be relaxed.
• Profile smile: This view helps in the assessment of angulations of the maxillary incisors.

Frontal view

• Frontal at rest: If lip competence is present, the lips should be in repose of the mandible in rest position.
• Frontal view with the teeth in maximal intercuspation, with the lips closed even if this strains the patient.
• Frontal dynamism (Smile): This type of frontal facial photographs helps in the assessment of amount of incisors shown on smile (percentage of maxillary incisors display on smile) and any excessive gingival display.
• A close-up image of the posed smile: A close-up image of the posed smile is used for careful analysis of the smile relationship.

Oblique (Three quarter, 45°) view

In this type of facial photograph, the patient in natural head position, looking 45° to the camera. Oblique facial photographs are taken in the following three views, which are helpful in the orthodontic diagnosis:

• Oblique at rest: Oblique at rest photograph is useful for the examination of the midface and is particularly informative of midface deformities, including nasal deformity.
• Oblique on smile: Oblique on smile reveals characteristics of the smile not obtainable on the frontal view and certainly not obtainable through any cephalometric analysis.
• Oblique close-up smile: Oblique close-up smile view helps in more precise evaluation of the lip relationship of the teeth and jaw that is possible using the full oblique view.

Intraoral Photographs

The intraoral photographs include the following fie views:

• Right lateral view
• Left lateral view
• Anterior/frontal view
• Maxillary occlusal view
• Mandibular occlusal view

Uses of Facial Photographs

• They provide permanent records of the patient’s pretreatment appearance as well as profie.
• Facial photographs lead to the analysis of facial profie and frontal analysis.
• They are used to assess face type and facial asymmetry.
• Intraoral photographs help in the correlation of both clinical and study model fidings.
• Helps in assessing treatment changes.
• They are used to motivate patients.
• They are used to monitor the progress of treatment.
• Photographs of parents and siblings help in diagnosis of hereditary pattrn.